The mayor of Madrid, José Luis Martínez-Almeida, advised all residents to stay at home on Sunday, as the capital braced itself for torrential rain and storms affecting different parts of Spain.
National weather agency AEMET issued a maximum red alert, which means possible extreme danger, for the Madrid region, the province of Toledo (Castilla-La Mancha), and the city of Cadiz (Andalusia).
The region of Murcia was also put on alert for torrential rain on Saturday night, but it fell largely around Alcanar (Tarragona) in southern Catalonia, where severe flooding was on-going on Sunday. Emergency services have also confined residents to their homes after 215 litres per square metre of rain fell in the past 24 hours.
AEMET said up to 120 litres per square metre of rain could fall over 12 hours in Madrid.
‘Due to the exceptional and abnormal situation, in which rainfall records will be broken, I ask the people of Madrid to stay at home today,’ Almeida wrote on X (formerly Twitter) – see below.
Dark storm clouds were gathering over Madrid during the early afternoon of Sunday, but many people were outside as usual.
Madrid’s emergency services also sent texts to residents warning them of flood risks and advising them not to use vehicles.
‘Due to the extreme risk of storms in Comunidad de Madrid today … do not use your vehicle if not strictly necessary and stay at home to receive further information,’ the alert said (see Tweet below).
La Liga suspended an evening match between Atletico Madrid and Sevilla at the Wanda Metropolitano stadium in Madrid due to the alert.
Se han reforzado los servicios de emergencias y seguridad y desde el viernes están activadas medidas para afrontar la DANA.
— José Luis Martínez-Almeida (@AlmeidaPP_) September 3, 2023
Por la situación excepcional y anómala, en la que se batirá el récord de precipitaciones, pido a los madrileños que se queden en casa hoy.
Precaución. pic.twitter.com/sQ6iWHsgdH
Protección Civil ha enviado una alerta a los móviles de los ciudadanos de la Comunidad de Madrid informando de que la región se encuentra en el nivel 1 del Plan de Inundacioneshttps://t.co/UycS8FN6ua pic.twitter.com/Cj8FlCDjNw
— RTVE Noticias (@rtvenoticias) September 3, 2023
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